Top Ten Tuesday: A Few of My Favorite Movies Based on Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. and is currently being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is “Page to Screen Freebie.” I’ve never been the biggest fan of adaptions. Also, seriously, is it adaption or adaptations? I’ve been let down so many times, but there are several that I really love. For this list, I’m only listing movies if I’ve read their book inspirations. This is only a few because I know I’ve forgotten some and there are others I’ve chosen to leave out (like the HP franchise).

1. The Princess Bride – One of the rare occasions when I will say the movie is better than the book. The book does have its charms, but the movie is almost flawless.

2. Ever After – This one totally counts right, since it’s based on Cinderella? This is my favorite childhood movie. I’m pretty sure I can still recite the whole movie. (I totally watched this one after I finished this list.)

3. Pride and Prejudice – I adore this adaption so much. I could watch it every day for a year and never tire of it. I’ll probably watch this one Tuesday night while I catch up on comments.

4. Sense and Sensibility – I love this Emma Thompson movie. I will probably never be convinced that Edward deserved Elinor, but I swoon unexpectedly whenever Colonel Brandon is on the screen.

5. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – This movie gave me all the warm and fuzzy feels. I’m not sure how many times I’ve watched this one, but it’s one I reach for when I’m feeling down.

6. Love, Simon – This adaption makes me believe that we can have really good adaptations (see what I did there?). I was so cynical going into this one, but now there are tons of books I’d love to see on film because this one restored my faith.

7. Misery – This might seem a little out of place, but do you know this is an incredible adaption? I don’t think I could watch this one over and over though.

8. A Wrinkle in Time – I don’t care what anyone says, I really enjoyed this adaptation (still don’t know which it is) of A Wrinkle in Time. It’s an astounding film to see visually speaking.

9. Flipped – This movie is so darn charming. Probably not quite as charming as the book, but it’s adorable and it made changes that I actually think worked really well for the film.

10. Matilda – This adaptation has a special place in my heart. I shared this one with my niece not too long ago and she was aghast out how emotional it made me. I’m secretly a sentimental pile of goo.

Are you a fan of any of these? Is it adaption or adaptation? What upcoming book-to-movie are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments and be sure to leave me a link to your own TTT post, so I can visit.

47 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday: A Few of My Favorite Movies Based on Books”

YES! “Ever After” totally counts. The film is (in part) what my early teen/teen years were made of. LOVED it, and let’s be honest, I still do. 🙂 The new “Pride and Prejudice” is everything (as a film since I never read the book) and TATBILB is a delight from beginning to end! 🙂

I love the BBC adaption of Pride and Prejudice. I grew up with it and Colin Firth, okay. Haha. Which reminds me I should do a rewatch some time this year. I really want to see the new A Wrinkle in Time movie. It looks so good. I tried the old one but meh could not get into that.

I LOVE Ever After! I watched it so many times growing up. I haven’t seen it in years, though, because we only have a VHS copy. I’ve also watched that P&P a ton of times. 😍 To All the Boys and Simon are both great as well. I can’t wait for the next Lara Jean movie! I had no idea that Flipped was based off a book. 😳

I loved Love, Simon so much. It was such a good movie/adaption. Matilda is always a win as well. I watch it every time I catch it playing on TV. I wasn’t a big fan of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movie. I thought the book was so much better and I also didn’t like that it spoiled book two for me. Because things that happened at the end of the movie were things that were happening in the first 100 pages of the second book. That annoyed me, because at the time I had only read the first book when I watched the movie. So that made me dislike the movie even more.

I was surprised by how much backstory exists in The Princess Bride novel compared to the movie. Is Love, Simon the movie close to the book? I want to read Leah on the Offbeat because she’s supposed to be a fat character, but I don’t want to read another book to get to that book.

If I had read The Princess Bride it would have made my list. I must have seen that movie 100+ times, when I was a teen. My friend was obsessed with it. Flipped made my list too. I thought setting it in the past was an odd choice, but the actors were fabulous and captured the spirit of that book so well.

I could watch the adaptation of Pride and Prejudice over and over again (in a matter of fact, I kinda did it when I finally bought the DVD when it came out). Yes! Misery is an amazing adaptation. I loved Kathy Bates. She was (and still is) incredible in the psycho-fan role.

I’m all for counting Ever After 😀 I’ve always wanted to have a Cinderella movie marathon, there are so many versions I enjoy! And you included my faaaavorite P&P- I could watch it every day too. TATBILB and Simon also made my list although I can’t believe I forgot Matilda!!! Such a great book and movie.